X-ray body scanner not used at Wandsworth prison, report finds

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Most inmates at Wandsworth prison were sharing cells meant for one person

One of Britain’s largest prisons stopped using X-ray body scanners to detect contraband for “unclear legal reasons”, a report has revealed.

HMP Wandsworth was questioned by inspectors as to why the “effective” technology had been removed.

Inspectors said psychoactive substances and cannabis were “too accessible” at the south-west London prison, which is the most-overcrowded jail in England.

Existing security technology was not used effectively, the assessment found.

“For example, the X-ray scanner in reception was no longer used and the CCTV cameras in visits were not monitored as a result, we were told, of a lack of staff,” it said.

The X-ray scanner had been used previously and was an effective way of identifying contraband, HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) said.

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HMIP said cannabis and new psychoactive substances were “too accessible” at the prison

Inspectors were also told inmates preferred the scan, which was more dignified than strip-searching.

“However, the scanner had fallen into disuse; we were told this was for legal reasons but we remained unclear about the reasons, given that similar scanners were in use in other establishments,” the report said.

Inspectors previously highlighted encouraging results from the use of body-scanning technology at HMP Belmarsh, saying it had led to the discovery of mobile phones, drugs and weapons that would not have been detected during a strip search.

The report on HMP Wandsworth, based on inspection visits in February and March, said in the previous six months, searches recovered 277 mobile phones, 65 weapons and 153 drug packages.

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